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Revised January 7, 2015
Northwest Florida State College
Tentative Syllabus for General Chemistry for Life Sciences (CHM1032C)
Spring 2015, Rm. S224
Ref.#92890, Mondays 8:00am – 9:50am and Wednesdays 8:00am – 10:50am
Dr. Lisa Struck
Instructor Contact Information:
Science Department Phone 729-5376
My Office Phone: 729-5296 or ext. 5296
Office: Room# S216
Email: struckl@nwfsc.edu
Faculty Website (practice tests, etc.): http://faculty.nwfsc.edu/science/struckl
D2L (resources) : www.nwfsc.edu (Distance Learning, Lab experiments, etc.)
Mastering Chemistry (online homework): www.masteringchemistry.com
Tentative Office Hours:
Will be held in my office (S216) OR in the classroom (S224).
Mondays: 10 am – 12 am
Tuesdays: 1 pm – 2pm & 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm
Wednesdays: 11 am – 12 am & 2 pm – 3 pm
Thursdays: 1 pm – 2 pm
Fridays: 10:30 am – 11:30 am, except Feb. 6, March 6, April 3, and May 1.
Before or after class is a good time to talk to me. Times other than office hours available by request. Please
Call or Email Me!
Text & Materials:
Chemistry: An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry, by Timberlake, 12th Ed. (ISBN:
0321933850).
Chemistry Laboratory Manual, by Timberlake, Custom Edition. (ISBN: 978-1-269-68337-1) {Please look
through your lab book to make sure ALL pages are there. Sometimes pages that you will need to fill
out have been used or torn out.}
Mastering Chemistry Access Code (to access required online homework).
Safety goggles rated for chemical splash, closed-toe shoes, and hair tie for lab.
Nonprogrammable scientific calculator. Lab apron rated for chemical splash is optional.
Calculator:
You must have, bring to every class, and know how to use a scientific calculator. I recommend the TI-30x
IIS calculator. You should be able to buy one for less than $20. The use of programmable and/or
graphing calculators will not be permitted during exams or quizzes. You need to bring a calculator to
every class!
Faculty Website:
Includes syllabus, schedule, and reviews for exams, practice exams and answers, and “Posted Grades”
where I periodically post your current grades. http://faculty.nwfsc.edu/science/struckl.
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Email: I will periodically email the class from my roster using Mastering Chemistry. Please enter an email
address that you check so you will receive messages that you may need for class. If I need to email files, I
will email to your college email.
Desire-2-Learn (D2L)
Desire2Learn or D2L has study resources that I have written that you may find useful. Some are games
for learning things such as the elements names and symbols, as well as practice problems. Also on this
site are some of your lab experiments that you must print and read before lab. To log on to D2L, go to
www.nwfsc.edu, and click on the Distance Learning link. On the left hand side of this page, click on
“My D2L Classroom. Then click on “Log on to D2L” near the top of the pages. Your username and
password will be assigned to you.
The NWFSC Network Username
Your Username is the same as your RaiderNet and NWFSC student email name without the
“@nwfsc.edu”.
An example of the student Username for John Doe would be “doej2”.
Your Username will have no spaces, commas, hyphens, or apostrophes.
The NWFSC Network Password
Your Password is different from your RaiderNet and NWFSC student email password.
Your Password is initially set as: first letter of your first name (upper case), the pound sign “#”, the
six digit date of birth in MMDDYY format.
An example of the student Password for John Doe with the birthday of January 1, 1990 would be
“J#010190”.
You can change this Password by logging in to an NWFSC computer. If you change it, please write it
down for future reference.
We cannot look up changed Passwords, but can change back to the initial (default) Password.
Password problems: please call 850-729-5396.
Request help at http://ltech.nwfsc.edu/forms/studenthelpform.html
Student
Usernames are created each day. The password is case sensitive (you must capitalize the first
letter).You will be automatically enrolled in the D2L course after you register for the course with the
registrar. Your courses will be listed under the current semester. (i.e. “Semester – Fall 2009”). You
may need to click on the down arrows sign at the end of the Semester title in order to see your courses
listed below. Click on the CHM1032 course. Once you are in the course, click on the “Content” on
the menu bar. Under the title “Self-Study Resources” there are also “Practice Problems” listed under
some chapters that are for your own practice – these grades are not recorded by me and are not part of
your grade for this course. Under “Content” is where you will find “Posted Grades” where I
periodically post your current grades. Also under “Content” is where you will find Lab Experiments
you will need to print out. On the menu bar is the Syllabus and Schedule which you may also print.
Web-based Required Homework (10% of grade)
Online homework is on the Mastering Chemistry website. You will need a student access code which
is sold with the book in the bookstore. This course ID is: CHM1032Spring2015Struck. Go to
www.masteringchemistry.com and click New Students under Register. See remaining instructions at
the end of this Syllabus. Before doing the online Homework (HW), I recommend first practicing the
Sample Exercises within the chapters and the problems at the end of each chapter, especially the ones
that have answers in the back of the book to check if your answer is correct. The online Homework is
on the publisher website: Mastering Chemistry. Some of the HW are tutorial problems that give hints
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as well as feedback on incorrect answers. There is no penalty for using hints, so please use them. You
may work different parts of a HW at different times. I recommend that you wait to submit your
answers until after we cover the topics in class. You will be allowed either 2 or more attempts for each
homework question. I am trying to give you incentive to learn from the problems you get wrong, and
try again. I recommend logging into this site as soon as possible to learn how to use the system and
solve any technical difficulties long before the homework deadlines. I highly recommend the Study
Area on this website for resources to help you learn chemistry. Check the grading policy on this
website for grading details, such as the penalty for each wrong answer.
Tentative Schedule and Exams:
A more detailed schedule (which is considered part of the syllabus) will be distributed in the near future
and available on the website. One to two weeks or less on each: Chapters 1-8, then we will cover parts of
Chapters 9-18 which will be announced in class. Expect some changes in the syllabus and due dates,
depending on class progress.
Test 1: Chapters 1, 2 & 3
Test 2: Chapters 4 &6
Test 3: Chapters 7 & 8
Test 4: Chapters 9, 10 & 5
Final Exam: The Final will be a comprehensive exam. You must take this exam.
Grades:
Exams: The 5 exams (Test 1-4 plus Final Exam) will be averaged together (add five grades then divide by 5
to get your Exam Average) and will be 70% of your course grade. There will be no “drop grade”; however,
you may replace the lowest test score (Test 1-4) with your Final Exam score. (In this case, your Final Exam
score counts twice, once for the Final Exam and once for your lowest Test score.) I offer very little or no
extra credit, because I would rather that you concentrate on the course material. There will be NO Makeup Exams. A missed exam even for an excused absence will be your lowest test score that will be replaced
by your final exam score. You are responsible for all material given in lecture, in the textbook, and
homework.
Online Homework: Online homework is 10% of your total grade. Each Homework Set is worth a different
number of points. To get your homework grade, take your total number of homework points earned divided
by the total points possible, then multiply by 100 to get the % grade. None of the homework grades will be
dropped. Some homework may receive a curve, however, you must have completed a significant fraction of
the homework in order to receive the curve.
Lab Reports: Lab reports are 10% of your total grade. Lab reports will be due exactly one week after the
lab was performed at the beginning of lab. Lab reports turned in up to one week late will be assessed a 10%
penalty, and up to 2 weeks late will receive a 30% penalty. Lab reports will not be accepted after 2 weeks
after the due date. No Lab Reports will be accepted during Finals week. You will be allowed to drop one
lab report grade. Lab Reports must have your name, the name of the lab, and group members’ names on the
first page. Lab Reports will include any data sheets filled out during lab, any assigned problems, and all
calculations with units must be shown for full credit. Pages need to be in order of page numbers (if they
have numbers) or in order that they are completed in the lab. Lab Report pages must be stapled together.
You must turn in the actual sheets that you wrote on (data and calculations), no photocopies. If you work
with lab partners, ONLY the data will be the same. Everyone must always turn in their own lab report. Any
work that appears to be copied from your neighbor will receive a zero.
Lab Quizzes: Most or all quizzes will be lab quizzes, which are taken just before a lab, and are 10% of
your total grade. These quizzes will take place immediately before a scheduled lab. Half of the lab quiz will
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be on the material (primarily calculations) in your last lab report (due that day or before). The other half of
the quiz will be on the experiment that we are about to do. I usually will ask what values will you
measuring that day and how you will measure those values. I am looking to see if you understand what you
are doing in lab and why. To get your lab quiz grade, calculate your average quiz grade, then multiply by 2
to get the % grade. (Each lab quiz is worth 50 points.) You need to be prepared to take a quiz before every
lab; however, there may be labs that we don’t have quizzes beforehand. You will be allowed to drop one
lab quiz. You can miss one lab without penalty (for illness or other emergencies); however, it is up to you
to get the information on a missed lab to study for the next Lab Quiz.
Final Course Grade: To calculate your final course grade = 0.70*(Exam Average) +
0.10*(Homework grade) + 0.10*(Lab report average) + 0.10*(Lab quiz grade)
The final letter grade is approximately based on:
90-100%, A
80-89%, B
70-79%, C
60-69%, D
≤ 59% , F
Posted Grades
I periodically post your current grades on my Faculty website and/or on D2L. The grades are posted
using the last 4 digits of your student id. After the first couple of tests, I will also post what you need
to get on your remaining tests to get an A, B, or C. The calculations are listed for what you need to get
if you replace your lowest test grade with the Final Exam grade, and separate calculations if you do not
drop a test grade. They are the last six columns of the spreadsheet. These calculations do not usually
include extra credit. At the beginning of the semester I do not drop lowest lab and quiz grades in these
calculations; and later in the semester I do drop lowest lab and quiz grades in these calculations.
Laboratory Policy and Safety:
 You can miss one lab without penalty (for illness or other emergencies); however, it is up to you to
get the information on a missed lab to study for the next Lab Quiz.
 All Experiments are to be performed individually unless otherwise instructed.
 Safety Goggles are REQUIRED, and must be worn AT ALL TIMES. Long hair must be secured.
Do not wear ties or open-toed shoes.
Plan To Succeed!
Chemistry does not need to be that difficult! It is however, a lot of material that takes a lot of
time to learn. You seriously need to plan to study Chemistry about 9 hours a week. Schedule days and
times that you will study Chemistry. To get the most out of lecture classes, read the Chapter before
class. You must learn and practice solving problems. It looks much easier when someone works it out
than when you go through the thought process yourself. I suggest working the Sample Exercises in the
Chapter first by covering the answer and see how far you can get. Then if you need a hint, peek at the
solution briefly and continue trying to work it out for yourself. Then work the problems in the back of
each Chapter and/or the homework practice session online. Many students have trouble with the math
in Chem I. You need to have algebra skills to succeed in Chemistry. You may need to check the
prerequisites for this course or brush up on your algebra now. I have noticed a direct correlation
between grades and coming to class and doing the homework. Those students who always come to
class and do the homework usually do well grade wise, and those who don’t always come to class and
don’t do all the homework usually perform poorly. There are some things in Chemistry that we need
to memorize so that we can work efficiently and not have to keep looking up everything. For
memorizing, I recommend making flash cards using index cards. Ask questions in class and in my
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office. Nine times out of ten, someone else has the same question. Study groups with other students
are often helpful. Come by my office, or call. I’m more than happy to meet students at other times not
listed as my office hours. Please let me help you learn Chemistry!
P. S. Don’t be afraid to ask questions when you don’t understand, or even when you do understand but
really want to know more!
Chain of Command (for any unresolvable problem with the instructor):
1) Please talk to me first.
2) Dr. Jon Bryan, Science Department Chair, 729-5246, or ext. 5246.
3) Dr. Anne Southard, Dean, 729-6040.
General Information:
 All work must be legible. If I can’t read it, you cannot get credit.
 All work must have your first and last name on the first page of any work turned in.
 Syllabus and Schedule may be revised by the instructor at any time based on the progress of the
class or other factors.
 There is a computer lab downstairs from our chemistry lab that has computers, internet access, and a
printer (however, you must provide your own paper).
 Academic Success Center provides many student services including free tutoring! Located in the
Student Activities Bldg. K, across from the bookstore, and Phone: 729-5389. There is also free online
tutoring with live chemistry tutors through SMARTHINKING, which you can access in your
Raidernet account. (Also, the chemistry tutors are online live until 2 am during the week!)
 If you have a disability for which accommodations may be appropriate to assist you in this class,
please contact the Office of Disability Support Services on the 2nd floor in the Student Services Center
on the Niceville Campus. The counselor for Students with Disabilities may be reached by calling 7296079 (TDD 1-800-955-8771 or Voice 1-800-955-8770) or by email at smithe15@nwfsc.edu. Students
qualified for extended testing time or other accommodations MUST notify me at least 1 week before
the test so I know to send the test to the Office of Disability Support Services, AND the student
MUST make an appointment to take the test in the Testing Center (SSC, upstairs). The test MUST
be scheduled the SAME DAY AS YOUR CLASS is taking the exam or the day before, otherwise,
you will be expected to take the exam with the class with no additional time. Any exam taken after the
day of the test will be given a zero. (Often the test is already graded and returned to the class the next
day.)
 Please arrive for class early or on time. Late people disrupt students who are trying to pay attention.
Please also do not step out of class for a phone call. Every time the door opens and closes, it disrupts
students trying to learn.
 Students are responsible for adherence to all college policies and procedures, including those related
to academic freedom, cheating, classroom conduct, and other items included in the Northwest Florida
State College Catalog and Student Handbook. Students should be familiar with the rights and
responsibilities detailed in the current Catalog and Student Handbook. Talking during an exam
constitutes cheating. Plagiarism, cheating or any other form of academic dishonesty is a serious breach
of student responsibilities and may trigger consequences which range from a failing grade to formal
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disciplinary action.
 Cell phones, pagers and other such electronic devices must be turned off during class time.
Communication by electronic device during class is strictly prohibited unless expressly designated as
part of the learning activities. Use of electronic communication devices during examinations or other
graded activities may constitute grounds for disciplinary action. Where emergency or employment
situations require access to electronic communication services, arrangements may be made in advance
with the instructor.
 In the event of unusual or extraordinary circumstances, the schedule, requirements, and procedures
in this course are subject to change. If the college closes for inclement weather or other emergency,
any exams, presentations or assignments previously scheduled during the closure period will
automatically be rescheduled for the first regular class meeting held once the college re-opens. If
changes to graded activities are required, students will not be penalized as a result of the adjustments,
but will be responsible for meeting revised deadlines and course requirements.
 Class attendance is an integral part of the learning process for this course. Students are expected to
attend class regularly. Please email, call me, or talk to me prior to an absence (or during/after absence
due to illness). It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from a course. Instructors are no
longer allowed to withdraw a student. All absences will be reported to financial aid except for
excused absences. Three tardies will equal one absence.
 If you change your grade to an audit, you will be required to attend all classes and labs. You do not
have to take tests, quizzes, or hand in lab reports. Failure to attend converts the audit into an F.
 Please do NOT come to class or lab if you are sick! The reason you may drop one lab and quiz
grade is in case you get sick. If you miss a lab, you may turn in the lab at the next class meeting. If you
are sick for more than one lab and if you have a doctor’s note for both absences then I will work with
students on a case by case basis. Please get the flu vaccine!
Dear Chemistry 1 Student:
In this course you will be using MasteringChemistry™, an online tutorial and homework program that accompanies
your textbook.
What You Need:



A valid email address that you check often
A student access code: (provided with book)
The ZIP code for your school: __32578_____________

A Course ID: __ CHM1032Spring2015Struck_________________ (Provided by your instructor)
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Register


Go to www.masteringchemistry.com and click New Students under Register.
To register using the Student Access Code inside the MasteringChemistry Student Access Kit, select
Yes, I have an access code. Click Continue.
–OR– Purchase access online: Select No, I need to purchase access online now. Select your
textbook and whether you want to include access to the eBook (if available), and click Continue. Follow
the on-screen instructions to purchase access using a credit card. The purchase path includes
registration, but the process may differ slightly from the steps printed here.


License Agreement and Privacy Policy: Click I Accept to indicate that you have read and agree to
the license agreement and privacy policy.
Select the appropriate option under “Do you have a Pearson Education account?” and supply the
requested information. Upon completion, the Confirmation & Summary page confirms your
registration. This information will also be emailed to you for your records. You can either click Log In
Now or return to www.masteringchemistry.com later.
Log In
 Go to www.masteringchemistry.com.
 Enter your Login Name and Password and click Log In.
Enroll in Your Instructor’s Course and/or Access the Self-Study Area
Upon first login, you’ll be prompted to do one or more of the following:



Enter your instructor’s MasteringChemistry Course ID.
Select your text, if available, and Go to Study Area for access to self-study material.
Enter a Student ID. Your student ID should be your: firstname.lastname, please be sure to enter this
information EXACTLY as instructed.
Click Save and OK.
Congratulations! You have completed registration and have enrolled in your instructor’s MasteringChemistry
course. To access your course from now on, simply go to www.masteringchemistry.com, enter your Login Name
and Password, and click Log In. If your instructor has created assignments, you can access them by clicking on
the Assignments button. Otherwise, click on Study Area to access self-study material.
Support
Access Customer Support at www.masteringchemistry.com/support, where you will find system requirements,
answers to frequently asked questions, and customer support contact information.
Extra Credit Science Seminars – Spring 2015
Extra credit for chemistry class with Dr. Lisa Struck
This semester you may earn a little extra credit by attending the Science Seminars held once a month
(usually the 3rd Friday of each month) at 11:00 am until about noon on the Niceville campus in the
Science Bldg. Room 110. When the speaker finishes the prepared presentation, the speaker will then
usually answer questions from the audience. Please remain seated and quiet during the question and
answer period.
You can get 2 points for just attending (you need to sign my sign-in sheet before the talk). You can get
up to 5 points for attending and writing a summary of the talk (please also sign in.) The summary
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paper summarizes the information that you learned from the seminar. This written summary is due the
following Friday (one week later). The paper needs to be at least one page single spaced, or two pages
double spaced or longer. Using multiple lines for name, title, etc., do not count toward the length
requirement. You may turn this in on paper to me (deadline is 11am), or you may use the "Dropbox"
on D2L (deadline is 1pm). These are the only two ways that you may turn this in.
The first seminar you attend: the points will be applied to one Lab Report.
The second seminar you attend: the points will be applied to one Quiz.
The third seminar you attend: the points will be applied to one Test.
The fourth seminar you attend: the points will be applied to one Homework score.
The Spring 2015 Seminar Schedule is as follows:
January 23
February 20
March 20
April 17
** All seminars will be on Friday mornings from 11am until noon in room S-110.
Hope that helps!